Holidaymakers heading out of our local airport are among the least likely to be hit by delays to their flight.

Delays at East Midlands Airport are better than the national average, according to a Press Association analysis of 25 airports across the UK.

It found an average delay of just under 15 minutes to flights leaving East Midlands Airport.

The worst across the country was Luton, with departures from the Bedfordshire airport an average of 20 minutes late in 2017.

London Gatwick recorded the second-worst punctuality performance followed by Jersey and Durham Tees Valley.

East Midlands Airport was placed 18th overall with a below average 13.3 minute delay.

The ranking takes into account every scheduled and charter flight from 25 of the UK's major airports. Cancelled flights are not included.

The study was based on data from the Civil Aviation Authority.

London Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport, was found to have the best performance, with aircraft typically taking off 11 minutes late.

Leeds Bradford had the second best record, followed by Belfast City and London City.

The airport with the longest delays

A spokeswoman for London Luton said: "We regret any delay our passengers experience."

She added that punctuality was influenced by "many factors" outside its control such as air traffic control strikes, late arriving aircraft, bad weather and congested airspace.

Gatwick said it was doing "everything within its power" to improve the proportion of its flights which depart on time, including using new technology to predict and recover from late running flights and speeding up the time it takes to turn around inbound aircraft.

"The aviation industry should constantly strive to improve punctuality to enhance the passenger experience," he added.

A spokesman for the Airport Operators Association (AOA) said "outdated" airspace infrastructure makes flights less efficient.

"The UK needs to modernise its airspace," he explained. "Airports are working with air traffic service providers and the Government to plan and deliver the necessary changes so everyone can continue to fly with a minimum of delays."

Passengers on delayed flights from UK airports are entitled to assistance and compensation depending on the cause and length of the disruption.

When flights are delayed for more than two hours, airlines have to provide free access to phone calls or emails, meals and refreshments, as well as hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is required.